Fumigating apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. J. METZGER ET AL FUMIGATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15.1924 E?. J. METGER ET AL.

lFuxuchwmci APPARATUS Filed Feb. 135. 1924 2 Sweats-Sham 2 www PatentedNov. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT oPFIcvla.`

FLOYD J. METZGER, NEW YORK, N. Y., AND

CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS T0 CALIFORNIA CYANIDE COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., A conroRATIoN or DELAWARE.

FUMIGATING APPARATUS.

' Application mea February 1s, i924. serial Na 693,001'. y

To aZZ whomz't may concern:

Be it known that we, FLOYD J. METzGER, a citizen of the United N ew Yorkcity, in the county of New York, State lof New York, and JOSEPH D.NEULs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in thecounty of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented certain newand'useful Improvements in Fumigating Apparatus; and we do, herebydeclare the following to be afull,clear, and exact description of theinvention, .such as will enable others skilled in the art towhiohappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the 'fumigation ofrorchards and similarvegetation, and particularly to an apparatus whereby the fumigatingagent may be effectively and economically transported and applied. Theinvention is useful in connection with the application of variousfumigating agents, especially hydrocyanic acid and mixtures thereof withwater.

Hydrocyanic acid has long beenl utilized as a fumigating agent inorchards. Because of its toxic properties it is very effective 1ndestroying the insects which infest trees, but

1t is likewise dangerous to human lifevand must be handled with extremecare to avoid accidents. The most primitive method of applying liydrocanic acid involvesthe generation thereof rom cyanides by the apphcationof an acid such as sulfuric. This method is both dangerous and wasteful,and

to avoid its difficulties attempts have been made heretofore to utilizeliquid hydrocyanicl acid in fumigation. To be effective hydrocyanic acidmust be applied -in the form of vapor, and the attempts mentioned havebeen directed toward the vaporization of hydrocyanic acid by sprayingorby heating. Attempts have been madc to vaporize hydrocyanic acid bythe application of heat through water baths heated by oil and similarburners. rl.`he necessity of employing a source of heat such as thatdescribed introduces additional difficulty and expense, but theprincipal disadvantage of this method of vaporizing the hydrocyanic acidis the difficulty of applying any material amount ofv superheat to thevapor. This, as will-be readily understood, would require the use of aboiler operated under pressure with the States, residingy at,

which attendant danger and the difficulty of controlling the amount ofheat applied.

v.Itis the object of the present invention to provide' a self-propelledfumigating unit embodying means for heating-and Vaporizlng fumlgatmgagents such as hydrocyanic acid ,or mixtures thereof` with Waterv in asimple, efficient and economical manner.

.Another object of the invention is the provislon of means foradequately purging the appara-tus after each discharge of hydrocyanicacid or other vapors so that all dan-v ger of accidental releaseofvapors is avoided.

Further. objects and advantages of the inventlon wlll'be'apparent aswitis better unfication and accompanying drawing, in

Fig. l is a longitudinal sgction through an apparatus embodying theinvention.;

Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In carrying. out the invention wek utilize the waste heat developed inan internal combustion engine for the vaporization of the hydrocyamcacid or Vother fumigating agent. Preferably the heat of thevcirculatingsystem aswell as that of the Waste gases lis employed.` As is wellknown, the Water in the circulating system of an internal combustionengine is maintained during the normaloperation of the engineataltemperature'of 'upward to 100 C. It is usual for the temperature'toremain at a out 90 C. ywhen the engine is properly functioning. Usuallythis `heat is. dissipated throughv the radiator but it furnishes asource of heat whichcan be applied t0 ad; vantage in vaporizing thefumigating agent. The major portion ofthe heat emp oyed is derived,however, from the exhaust gases from the outlet manifold of the engine.Thesegases escape at relatively-high temperatures which vary withtherichness of the combustible mixture supplied to the engine. A richmixture'with a retarded spark provides exhaust gases at the highesttemperature, but it is undesirable to operate the engine in this mannerowing tothe resulting accumulation of carbon in the cylinders. We preferto operate the engine in the norf mal manner and to supply additionalyheat uite i .iosEPH D. NEULs, 0E Los ANGELES,

`derstood by reference to the following specil coil or exchanger to apoint adjacent t -outlet port which has been found in the Ford engine tobe approximately` the hottest point in the manifold. The vaporswhich atthis point are-highly superheated are then through enclosure whichsurrounds the measured to ensure a 'vided to y the continued travelofthe. vapors is en- `liquid hydrocyanic acid in passing through thecoil is warmed to the temperature of the .circulating water andpartially. vaporized. It passes thence to another coil or equivalentheat. exchanger disposedl in the outlet manifold of the engine and in anextension thereof. To'utilize the heat of the exhaust gases to the.maximum advantage it is preferable to convey-the hydrocyanic acid to aoint adjacent to theoutlet from the mani old extension and to permit ittoreturn-to the coil at a Vpoint nearthe last or 'rearmost exhaust portfrom the enginelv The and anygremaining liquid are thence vaporsconveyed to the vforward end of the manifold and permitted to returnthrou h 1the e ast =:lel'vered'from'the manifold and conveyed a suitableflexible connection to the vegetation to be treated.

The liquid hydrocyanic acid is introduced to the heating system,

roper dosage, by A c eck valve is pro# means of a pum return-of theliquid and revent t e sured by the introduction preferably of air bymeans of a pump through a suitable check valve. lhe air following theliquid. and vapors through the heating coils ensures the purging of thea paratus after each discharge so that no a ter-generation ofliydrocyanic Vacid vapors is possible. The safety of the o erators isthus ensured. V n

Obviously the particular arrangement of the lieatingcoil in the manifoldcould be varied depending upon the' `peculiar charac-y teristics of theengine in .conjunction lwith which the apparatus is'used. 'lt isdesirabh` that the liquid' hydrocyariic acid should enter the heat'exchan er near-the point of lowest temperature an should be deliveredtherefrom4 at the oint of highest temperature. The coil or eat exchangershould accordingly be arranged with this purpose in. view. The formofthe coil or heat'exchanger may vary, many forms of such de- -vices beingknown. Similarly the details of purging the apparatus may be varied, forexample, by employing compressed air after being suitably p which isstored under pressure in a suitable tank instead of utilizing a'pump tosupply the-air. Water may also be used to purge the apparatuathewaterbeingfirst forced by pump through a coil inthe manifold whereinit isconverted into steam and then delivered to the coil in which hydrocyanicacid. isvaporized.- .Obviously .if steam is used to purge the apparatusit should not be introduced in the coil which provides heatiiiterchangewith" the circulating water of the engine becausefthe. latter is at alower temperature. The exhaust gases of the engine may also be used topurge the apparatus by diverting a portion thereof from the end of themanifold `into the vapori'zing coil under suitable control. vOther gasessuch as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc., 'could be stored in suitabletanks under pressure and released inthe vaporizing coil to purge the`latter of hydrocyanic acid, but theuse of such means necessarilyinvolves l additional expense.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates a chassis of a suitable vehicleupon which an engine 6 is-inounted. vided with the usual apparatus forsupplying combustible mixtures thereto. At the front of the vehicle aradiator 7 is mounted and connected to the circulating system ofthe-engine to permit the usual circulation ofcoolingl water, A tank 8 ispreferably disposed at the top of the'radiator and communicatestherewith so that'the heatedwater entering the radiator will rise intothe tank and thus transfer heat to a coil 9 disosed therein. Undercertain4 conditions when the heat is being effectively transferred forthe purpose of va orizing liydrocyanic' acid the radiator may e closedby means of a suitable shutter. It is understood that from the tank 8the water returns through the usual connections to the cooling jacket ofthe' engine.

Liquid hydrocyanic acid or av mixture thereof with water or any suitablefumigat` Vin .agent which is to be vaporized is supplied through a` pipe10 from a souice of supply such as a tank which is carried on thevehicle. A suitable measuring device, such, for example, as thatillustrated and described in the application `of Joseph D. Neuls, SerialNo. 589,255, is provided to Apermit the application of 'ameasured dosageof the hydrocyanicl acid. Thev measuring' device is preferably providedwith a plung` er which enables theoperator to force the liquid throughthe pipe l() and a check valve 1l into the coil 9 through a connectingpipe l2.v After passing tlirouglitlie coil 9 the liquid liydrocyanicacid and vapors travel through apipe 13 to the rearend ofa manifoldextension A14u. The latter is lconnected to a manifold 15' which issomewhat larger than the usual manifold on the engine and The enginev'is pro 1,5ea,eoe

purposes of the invention.

A vcoil vor other `heat exchanger 18`is disposed in the manifoldextension 14 and con? nected to the pipe 13. The vapors are deliveredfrom travel backwardly therethrough toa point near the juncture of themanifold extension 14 and manifold 15. Thence they are conveyed by apile 19` to the forward end of a coil 20 or ot er heat exchangerydisposed within the manifold. The vapors return through the coil 20 to apoint adjacent the juncture of the manifold extension 14 and manifold l5and are delivered through ,a pipe 21 which passes through the end. ofthe manifold extension. To this pipe 21 a flexible hose may be securedto facilitate the delivery of the vapor to the enclosure which surroundsthe vegetation.

To purge the apparatus a pump 22 of any suitable form and constructionis supported on the chassis 5 adjacent theA engine and is provided witha driving connection from the latter. A clutch 23 permits this pump tobe throwninto and out of operation at the will of the operator. Afterthe charge of hydrocyanic acid has been introduced through the valve 11thepump is started by the operator to force a. blast of air through apipe 24 and valve 25 into the pipe l2, thence following the course ofthe vapors described above. air, as hereinbefore noted, forces thevapors changers and purges the apparatus -of poisonous fumes after eachcharge has been delivered.

As the heat utilized in thel apparatus'isi solely the waste heat of theengine, vaporization is accomplished without expense other than thatnecessary in operating the engine. The latter is necessary for thepurpose ofl conveying the apparatus to and from, as Well as about theorchard to be fumigated, and as the successive charges aredelivered withgreat rapidity'the apparatus is extremely economical. In fact thefacility with which the apparatus may be transported and utilized verymaterially reduces the expense of fumigating orchards and the like. Theapparatus permits the application of a high degree of superheat to thevapors as is desirable to avoid condensation of the hydrocyanic acidbefore it has ac complished its intended purpose. The hydrocyanic acidis made more effective and it is possible, moreover, to utilize theapparatus when the temperature of the atmosphere is lower than thatunder which it has vbeen possible heretofore to conduct the pipe 13tothe coil 18 and This blast of il Vnation of a vehicle with tures ofhydrocyanic acid andwater in which the proportion of water is such 'asto -convey the desired amount of heat -to the enclosure so that4 thetemperature therein is raised to a point which makes lthe hydrocyanicacid most effective in insect pests.

Various changes may be made in the form and arrangement ofthe partswithout departing from the invention or 'sacrificing any of theadvantages thereof. "l

l/Ve` claim l l 1. In a fumigating apparatus the combination of avehicle with -an internal combustion engine to supply driving powertherefor having an exhaust gas manifold and an extensionl thereof, heatexchangers inthe manifold and extension.. and `means for delivering themedium to be vaporizedy successively to the heat exchangers in theextension and manifold 4whereby the maximum heating effect :ofthe-exhaust gases is utilized.

,2: Inja fumigating apparatus the combiof tlieengine is utilized.`through the several coils or heat interr 2n In a fun'iigating apparatusthe combihaving a circulating cooling system adapted to contain acirculating medium and means for utilizing the waste heat of the engineto vapori'ze the fumigating medium include ing a heat exchanger in thecirculating cool# ing system conveying the fumigating medium separatelyfrom the circulating medium. i

4. In a fumigatingapparatus the combian internal combus-v' tion engineto supply driving power therefor having a circulating' cooling systemadapted to contain a circulating medium, means for utilizing the wasteheat ofthe engine to vaporize the fumigating medium including a heatexchanger in the circulating cooling system, conveying the fumigatingmedium separately from thecirculating medium and a heat exchangeradapted to transfer heat .destroying n v system and means i to transferheat to the 4a heat exchanger in 2 system and means including a pump anda connection to the" to vaporize the having a circulating coolingsystem, 'means for vutilizing the waste heat of the engine to vaporizethe fumigating-medium including a heat exchanger in the circulatingcooling system, `and a heat exchanger adapted to 'first from theexhaustJ gases at lower tem.

perature andl then fromuthe exhaust gases at higher temperature'.

6. In a fumigating apparatus the combination of a Vehicle with aninternal combustion engine to supplydriving powertherefor hav-ing acirculating cooling system, means for utilizing the waste heat oftheengine to -vaporize thefumigating medium including a heat exchanger-1nthe circulating cooling for purging the apparatus.

7. In afumigating apparatus the combination of a vehicle with aninternal combustion engine to supply driving power therefor Vhavingacirculating cooling system, meansV for utilizing the waste heat of theengine to vaporize the fumigating medium including the circulatingcooling for purging the `apparatus heat exchanger.

8. In a fumigating apparatus the combination of a vehicle with aninternal combustion engine to supply driving power therefor having acirculating cooling system, means for utilizing the waste heat of theengine fun'iigating medium including a heat exchanger'in the circulatingcooling system, and a'heat exchanger adapted medium from the exhaustgases ofthe engine, and means for l purging the vaporizing means.

9. Ina 'f-umigating apparatus the combination of a vehicle with aninternal combustion engine to supply driving power therefor having acirculating cooling system, means for utilizing the waste heat of theengine vto vaporize the a heat exchanger in the circulating coolingsystem,`and a heat exchanger adapted to transfer heatJ to the mediumfrom the exhaust gases .ofthe engine, and means for purging thevaporizing means including a pump and a connection to the heatexchanger.

10. In a fumigating apparatus the combination of avehicle with aninternal combustionengine to supply driving powertherefor having a"circulating cooling system, an auxiliarytank communicating with thecirculating cooling system, a heat exchanger in 'fumigating mediumincluding the auxiliary tankand means for delivering the medium to bevaporized to the heat exchanger.'

11.d In a fumiga'ting apparatus the combination of a vehicle with aninternal combustion engine to supply driving powerA therefor having acirculating cooling system, an auxiliary tank communicating with thecirculating cooling system, a heat exchanger in the auxiliary' tank,means ffor delivering the medium to b evaporized to the heat exchanger,a heat exchanger adapted to transfer heat to the medium from the exhaustgases of the engine anda connection between-the heat exchangers.

12. In a fumigating apparatusthe combination of a vehicle with aninternal combustion engine to supply driving power therefor having ,acirculating cooling system,an auxiliary tank communicating with thecirculating cooling system, a heat exchanger in the auxiliary tank,means ordelivering the .medium to be vaporized to the heat exchanger, aheat exchanger adapted to transfer heat to the medium from the exhaustgases ofA the engine, a connection :between the heat lexchangers andmeans forpurging the exchangers. l i

13. In a fumigating apparatus the combination ofa vehicle with aninternal combustion engine to supply driving owerftherefor having acirculating coo ing system,

means for utilizing the waste heat of the engine to vaporize thefumigating medium including a heat exchanger in the circulating coolingsystem, a heat exchanger adapted to transfer heat to the medium from theexhaust gases of the engine .and an air pump connected to the heatexchangers` to force the vaporized fumigating medium therefrom.

14. In a fumigating apparatus the combination of a vehicle with aninternal combustion engine to supply driving power therefor having acirculating vcooling system, means for utilizing the waste heat of theengine to vaporize the fumigating medium including a heat exchanger inythe' circulattures.

FLOYD J. METZGER. JOSEPH D. NEULS.-

a heat exchanger adapt' In testimony whereof we affix our signa-

